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National Mashed Potato Day

Food · October 18

A food day for mashed potatoes: boiled potatoes crushed smooth with butter and milk, plus the many ways people season, top and serve them.

National Mashed Potato Day falls on Monday, October 18, 2027. That is 356 days away.

Mashed potatoes start as plain boiled potatoes and end as something softer and richer. Once the potatoes are cooked, they get crushed with butter, milk or cream, and salt until they turn smooth, or stay a little lumpy if that is how the household likes them.

The potato matters more than people expect. Starchy varieties such as russets break down into a light, fluffy mash. Waxy or all-purpose potatoes like Yukon Golds give a denser, creamier result with a buttery color. Some cooks leave the skins on for texture. Others push the potatoes through a ricer for the smoothest bowl they can manage.

From there, the add-ins are up to the cook. Roasted garlic, sour cream, cheddar, chives and black pepper all turn up often. Gravy is the classic topping, poured into a well pressed into the center with the back of a spoon. Plenty of people treat that well as the most important engineering on the plate.

Mashed potatoes sit beside roast chicken, meatloaf and pot roast, and they also top shepherd's pie, where they bake into a golden crust. Leftovers are easy to reuse. Shaped into patties and pan fried, they become crisp potato cakes.

One kitchen habit comes up again and again. Overworking the potatoes, especially in a blender or food processor, can make them gluey, so a masher or a gentle hand usually gives a better bowl.

Ways to celebrate

• Try mashing a potato variety you have never used before.
• Mix roasted garlic or fresh chives into a homemade batch.
• Turn leftover mashed potatoes into crispy pan fried potato cakes.
• Ask family members how they like their mash, smooth or lumpy.
• Make a small pot of gravy for the well in the middle.

Dates

All national days on October 18

Also on October 18

• National Chocolate Cupcake Day
• National No Beard Day
• Alaska Day

Categories: Food days